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EU Policy & Funding Info

Outline of key EU Policy & Funding Structures

EU Funding

Key Policy Docs

Current Funding, By Type

Cohesion Policy, The EU’s Main Investment Policy

Targeting all regions and cities in the EU, the Cohesion Policy was created to support job creation, business competitiveness, economic growth, sustainable development, and improve citizens’ quality of life. To achieve these goals and address diverse development in all EU regions, €392 billion or almost one third of the total EU budget has been set aside for the Cohesion Policy for 2021-2027.

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Delivery

Cohesion Policy is delivered through specific funds:

The

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)⁠

, to invest in the social and economic development of all EU regions and cities.

The

Cohesion Fund (CF)⁠

, to invest in environment and transport in the less prosperous EU countries.

The

European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)⁠

, to support jobs and create a fair and socially inclusive society in EU countries.

The

Just Transition Fund (JTF)⁠

to support the regions most affected by the transition towards climate neutrality.

To learn more see

2021-2027 Cohesion Policy EU Budget Allocations⁠

⁠

Policy Objectives

The Cohesion Policy will impact many fields including education, employment, energy, the environment, the single market, research and innovation.

The focus is to finance projects that will contribute to

Commission priorities⁠

in regions and cities that contribute to:

“

A European Green Deal⁠

”

“

A Europe fit for the digital age⁠

”

“

An economy that works for the people⁠

”

The Cohesion Policy also provides special care or investment tools for:

⁠

Border regions and cross-border cooperation (Interreg)⁠

⁠

Urban areas⁠

⁠

Remote, islands, mountainous or sparsely populated areas⁠

⁠

Outermost regions⁠

⁠

Boosting EU Solidarity

The bulk of Cohesion Policy funding is concentrated on

less developed European countries and regions⁠

in order to help them to catch up and to reduce the economic, social and territorial disparities that still exist in the EU.

The

Just Transition Fund⁠

alleviates the socio-economic costs triggered by the climate transition, supporting the economic diversification and reconversion of the territories concerned, helping people to adapt in a changing labour market.

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economic situation of EU regions is addressed by

REACT-EU⁠

, the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe.

Legislation

The EU goal of Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion is defined in articles 174 to 178 of the

Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union⁠

⁠

Cohesion Policy legislation 2021-2027⁠

⁠

What types of funding are available?

The EU provides funding for a range of projects and programs. Understandably it applies strict rules to ensure control over how funds are used in a transparent and accountable manner.

⁠

To Summarize, EU funding comes in many forms:

⁠

grants⁠

– partly funded by the EU and partly from other sources – that usually follow public announcements known as calls for proposals

subsidies managed by national and regional authorities

⁠

loans, guarantees and equity⁠

as forms of financial assistance to support EU policies and programs

prizes to winners of

Horizon 2020⁠

contests.

Management of EU Funding

EU funding is managed one of three ways:

Direct

Shared Management

Indirect

Direct

Direct funding is managed by the EU and usually grants for specific projects related to EU Policies. You can apply for this type of funding by answering calls for proposals.

Shared Management

Shared Management is funding managed in partnership with national and regional authorities and accounts for around 80% of the EU budget. There are five main funds under the

European structural & investment funds⁠

⁠

European Regional Development Fund⁠

– regional and urban development

⁠

European Social Fund⁠

– social inclusion and good governance

⁠

Cohesion Fund⁠

– economic convergence by less developed regions

⁠

European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development⁠